I went to dinner at Daniel in New York City last week and had one of the best cocktails I have had in a long time.  It was very simple in its composition—Grey Goose pear flavored vodka, homemade Earl Grey tea syrup and a twist of lemon.

I don’t usually like flavored vodkas, but this variety is great.  It tastes like the skin of a ripe pear without seeming artificially flavored.  The citrusy and floral flavor of the tea pairs well with the fruit and is rounded off nicely with a bit of fresh lemon juice.  But, best of all this drink easily be recreated at home (less the $15 price tag)!

Earl Grey and Pear Martini
1 oz. Grey Goose pear vodka
1 oz. Earl Grey Syrup (see recipe below)
1 tsp. fresh lemon juice

Shake over ice in a martini shaker and strain into a chilled glass.   Garnish with a lemon zest twist.  (You could also rim the glass with a bit of sugar for a more finished look.  Or if you wanted to get really fancy, you could replace the vodka with pear brandy, my favorite being made in Portland, Oregon by Clear Creek Distillery.)

Earl Grey Syrup
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
2 Earl Grey tea bags

Bring the sugar and water to a boil for one minute.
Remove from heat, add tea bags and steep to a moderately strong flavor.
Remove tea bags and let cool down at room temperature.  Once cool, transfer to another container and let chill in the refrigerator until completely cold.

Filed Under: Wine & Libations